Aircraft Anti-Collision Light Collimation and Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft anti-collision lighting systems require high power and heat output to meet Federal aviation standards for visibility, which reduces their longevity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The use of a novel optic with a plurality of collimators to direct and collimate light along specific steradians, increasing luminance at required observation angles while minimizing the power demand and heat production of the light source, utilizing a linear arrangement of LEDs and a heat sink to focus light into particular steradians.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If high power and heat output are used to meet Federal aviation standards for visibility, then the visibility and intensity requirements are satisfied, but the operational life and efficiency of the lighting system deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into multiple independent LED elements arranged linearly, with each element having its own collimator. This segmentation allows individual control of light output from each LED, enabling the system to meet visibility requirements through strategic illumination rather than requiring all LEDs to operate at maximum power continuously, thus extending operational life.
Solution Approach 2:
Each LED element is paired with a dedicated collimator that optimizes the light distribution pattern for that specific location. The collimators are designed with specific curvature and positioning to direct light toward required observation angles, creating local quality optimization that reduces overall power demand while maintaining compliance with Federal aviation visibility standards.
2Illumination intensity
If high power is consumed to achieve required luminous intensity, then visibility standards are met, but heat production increases which reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Collimators serve as intermediary optical elements between the LED light sources and the surrounding environment. These collimators redirect and focus the light from LEDs toward specific observation angles required by aviation standards, thereby reducing the total power consumption of the LED array while maintaining the necessary luminous intensity in the required directions and minimizing unnecessary heat generation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If light is emitted in all directions to ensure visibility from all angles, then compliance with aviation standards is achieved, but power consumption and heat output increase
Solution Approach 1:
The linear arrangement of LEDs with individual collimators creates localized light emission patterns that are optimized for specific observation angles. Each collimator is designed to direct light toward particular steradians where visibility is required, rather than emitting uniformly in all directions. This local quality approach maintains compliance with aviation visibility standards while significantly reducing overall power consumption and heat output.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the power demand and heat output of aircraft anti-collision lighting systems, increasing their operational life while meeting or exceeding Federal aviation standards for visibility.
Implementation Method 1
a novel optic with a plurality of collimators to direct and collimate light along specific steradians
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a linear arrangement of LEDs and a heat sink to focus light into particular steradians
Implementation Method 3
utilizing a linear arrangement of LEDs and a heat sink to focus light into particular steradians
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft light collimation and redirection apparatus and method devised to reflect, refract, focus, and collimate light from a light source along particular steradians relative to an aircraft to maximize the perceived luminous intensity at all statutorily required angles of observation while minimizing the required luminous efficacy of the light source.